PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The LIU men's lacrosse team gave regular season champions Saint Joseph's a run for their money Saturday afternoon on the road, but the Hawks pulled out the 14-13 win, claiming the top seed in the Northeast Conference tournament.
 
The game was a battle between the top two teams in the league, and it came down to the last possession. Junior Jake Gillis led the Sharks in nearly upsetting the undefeated Hawks, scoring six goals. LIU moves to 6-3 overall, and 5-2 in the NEC. The Sharks have clinched a spot in the postseason tournament, and sitting in second place, are fighting for the right to host the first round.
 
St. Joe's would score two quick goals at the start of the game, but LIU was able to answer in kind. Gillis would score his first off of a pass from Nick Grassa, and Dylan Villari added an unassisted goal that tied it up, 2-2. Sean Boll added another five minutes later off a pass from Blake Behlen, and the two teams left the first quarter tied 3-3.
 
The Sharks would take the lead for the first time in the second period. Gillis would score back-to-back goals within 40 seconds to tie it up and put LIU ahead, 5-4. SJU would tie it up, but the Boll would score off a pass from Richie LaCalandra, and Behlen added an unassisted goal that gave LIU a 7-5 lead. The Sharks held on to a 7-6 advantage at the halftime break.
 
St. Joe's came out in the second half and scored four unanswered goals to retake the lead and go up, 10-7. Gillis would score twice more, helping t close the gap, but another three-goal streak by the Hawks made it 13-9.
 
Three minutes into the fourth period, LIU went on a scoring streak of its own. LaCalandra would score his first goal of the game with 12 minutes left, and over the next six minutes, James Butler and Marcin Maleski would each score their firsts of the game, closing the lead to 13-12 with six minutes to play. SJU would score just before the five-minute mark, in what would be the eventual game-winner. Gillis gave LIU a chance late, with his goal at 3:18 that cut the lead to one, but the Sharks wouldn't get another shot off, and fell to the Hawks, 14-13.
 
Gillis finished as the points leader with six goals, while Blake Behlen had a goal and four assists. Richie LaCalandra had a goal and three assists, and Boll finished with two goals and one assist.
 
Sophomore keeper Will Mark was once again a force in the net for the Sharks, making 19 saves in the loss.
 
Up next, LIU finishes the regular season hosting Bryant, Tuesday, April 27 at 12 p.m.